Digitimes adds new details to its previous reports concerning Apple’s plans to release an entry level and more economical iPhone model. A few weeks ago the publication relayed that Apple will release a larger, and yet cheaper, iPhone device that will be targeted for emerging markets.

This report was soon corroborated by the WSJ which noted:

While Apple has explored such a device for years, the plan has been progressing and a less expensive version of the flagship device could launch as soon as later this year, one of the people said.

The cheaper phone could resemble the standard iPhone, with a different, less-expensive body, one of the people said. One possibility Apple has considered is lowering the cost of the device by using a different shell made of polycarbonate plastic.

“Apple’s rumored entry-level iPhone reportedly may adopt plastic for its chassis instead of reinforced glass or unibody metal as in the company’s standard iPhone models, to save cost”, according to the latest report from Digitimes which was sourced from the upstream supply chain.

At the same time, Digitimes relays another rumor wherein this rumored entry level iPhone will utilize a chasis comprised of both plastic and metal, “with the internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design, the sources noted.”

Intriguing. The rumored device may drop during the second half of 2013, according to the report.